St. Albert becames a mission in the middle of the 19th century. The first mass was celebrated in that area in 1853 by Monsignor Calixte Marquis, parish priest of St. Célestin, who played a major role in the development of the region. A 24 feet (7.3 meters) by 30 feet (9,1 meters) squared off wood chapel is built by Mgr. Marquis and a bell is added in 1879. The chapel is enlarged in 1870 to measure 40 feet (12.2 meters) long by 36 eet (10.9 meters) wide in order to install a vestry and a living quarter for the missionnary. The first presbytery was built in 1872.

On September 18, 1876, Bishop Louis-François Laflèche, from Trois-Rivières, appoints Rev. Charles-Olivier Gingras as St. Albert's first resident missionnary. He will become the founding parish priest the following year.

Mgr. Marquis donates, on November 20, 1876, a piece of land located on Lot 13 of the 8th concession road in the Warwick township. A request is presented to Bishop Laflèche on December 10, 1876 ir order to change the status of the mission into a parish. The canonical parish establishment was granted on March 8, 1877.

The construction of the church along with a vestry is commissionned, on May 24, 1882, to architect Louis Caron, from Nicolet, at the cost of $6,700. Construction work began in July 1882. Buildings are covered with bricks and the church is 100 feet (30.5 meters) long and 50 feet (15.2 meters) wide. It was blessed by Bishop Laflèche on February 6, 1884. A new presbytery is built in 1907.

The church is destroyed by fire on May 29, 1915 and only the exterior walls are spared. A 75 feet (22.9 meters) tent, erected next to the presbytery, is used for services during reconstruction. Works began in July 1915 over the same foundations but modifying the façade in order to add two towers and spires. The church was blessed on May 22, 1916 by Bishop Hermann Brunault, from Nicolet.